Marquee Matchups for the World Series
Stan McNeal - SportingNews.com
Oct 27, 2009
Sporting News' Stan McNeal breaks down three key World Series matchups.
The Sluggers: Ryan Howard vs. Alex Rodriguez
They are as different as the sides of the plate they hit from. The lefty Howard is quick to smile and mostly approachable except when he's preparing to bat. A-Rod has kept a low profile off the field this year—as low as anyone who dates Kate Hudson can keep, that is. Staying out of the headlines has helped his teammates warm up to him.
While their personalities are different, their production has been the same in the playoffs: Remarkable. A-Rod has at least one hit in every game and an RBI in every game but one. Howard also has an RBI in every game but one and has reached base at least twice in every game but one.
Howard spent last off-season improving his diet, losing weight and working on his defense. A-Rod spent his winter dealing with accusations and admissions of using performance-enhancing drugs and wondering if his right hip would even allow him to play.
After Howard tweaked his stance, he enjoyed a typical season. He hit a lot of homers (45), drove in a ton of runs (141) and had a bunch of strikeouts (186). He also had his usual blazing finish, driving in 63 runs in his final 60 games. Though A-Rod struggled upon his return in early May, his mere arrival turned around Mark Teixeira. After hitting .200 in April, Teixeira hit .330 with 13 homers in May. A-Rod eventually heated up, too, and a huge final day—two homers and seven RBIs—gave him his 12th consecutive season of 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
The Aces: Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia
By now, the texts surely have been flying between the former teammates. They could see a lot more in the coming days because they could face off three times if the World Series goes seven games. Lee, however, would be working on short rest twice in a week after having never done so.
They have contrasting styles that fit their contrasting bodies. Sabathia is a classic power lefty with a fastball that touches the upper-90 mph range and is consistently around 95 mph. He also has an effective changeup that can be devastating when he locates like he did in Game 5 of the ALCS. Lee is more of a fastball-slider pitcher who relies on command. "He throws the ball where he wants on both sides of the plate," Sabathia says.
Sabathia was a first-round draft pick and then a full-time starter as a 20-year-old rookie. Lee signed with the Expos after being selected in the fourth round in 2000 and was traded in the same deal that brought Grady Sizemore to Cleveland. Sabathia struggled in past playoffs because, he admitted last week, he "tried to do too much" himself. This is Lee's first playoffs.
The Closers: Brad Lidge Mariano Rivera
Lidge has bounced back from a dreadful regular season and as his confidence has risen, so has his effectiveness. Or is that the other way around? Charlie Manuel has picked his spots wisely when using Lidge this month. Unlike last year, there have been times when the Phillies began the ninth inning with a lefthander for matchup reasons and then brought in Lidge. Joe Girardi, understandably, has ridden Rivera as much as he can. He has worked more than an inning in four of his eight appearances.
Rivera continues to rely on one pitch: a cut fastball that is especially deadly to lefthanded hitters. Rivera still throws the pitch in the 90-mph range. Lidge throws a 95-mph fastball and a hard slider that can be dominant or can cause the pitcher problems. "I've gotten in trouble this season when I've been slider-happy," he says. Lidge blew a save against the Yankees in May when he allowed three runs in the ninth.
Both are among the most respected players in the game by peers, fans and media. After every blown save, Lidge made himself available. Rivera is admired for his professionalism as much as his pitching.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
----
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion
Copyright 2012 by SportingNews.com
